Elon Musk’s DOGE initiative sparked turmoil Tuesday as federal workers faced a controversial “second chance” email demand to justify their jobs, with agencies like the Pentagon refusing compliance and unions filing lawsuits to block Musk’s termination threats.
Elon Musk’s bold threat to offer federal employees “a second chance” to respond to his email threatening termination unless they justify their jobs is sure to cause more turmoil throughout the United States government on Tuesday.
Musk issued the warning after members of the Trump administration informed government employees they were exempt from responding to his weekend email in which he requested a summary of their achievements over the previous seven days. According to Musk, if you don’t respond, it’s the same as resigning, Reuters reports
Some government departments, like the US Treasury, instructed their employees to comply with the request, but others, like the Pentagon, did not. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management finally informed agencies that their staff may disregard the email as Musk’s deadline drew near, which was Monday at midnight.
Even after President Trump charged Musk—a billionaire and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX—with spearheading a massive reduction in federal spending, Musk remained resolute.
“Subject to the discretion of the president, they will be given another chance. Failure to respond a second time will result in termination,” he warned on X, the social media platform he runs.
Subject to the discretion of the President, they will be given another chance.
Failure to respond a second time will result in termination. https://t.co/04xzgScXfj
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 25, 2025
When asked to comment on Musk’s comments, the White House remained silent.
New divisions emerged inside Trump’s fledgling government as a result of Musk’s actions and the resistance he encountered from federal agencies, leading to inquiries on the boundaries of Musk’s power.
Some agency executives continued to push their workers to respond to Musk’s email despite OPM’s instructions warning against disclosing sensitive information.
An anonymous GSA source said that a top manager informed staff that the government was still urging them to reply despite the survey’s voluntariness. The General Services Administration is responsible for managing federal facilities.
Responding with bullet points was voluntary but strongly recommended, according to an email issued by the acting director of OPM to the agency’s workers.
According to an email acquired by Reuters, the Department of Health and Human Services told employees to make their replies general and avoid mentioning specific products or contracts they are working on.
It was implied in the email that staff should respond as if their work were being read by hostile foreign entities.
More than 20,000 staff have been laid off as a result of Musk’s downsizing plan, which is driven by his so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). A total of 75,000 workers have been offered buyouts by the current administration.
Roughly 2.3 million people work for the federal government.
Companies who do business with the government have been forced to lay off workers and withhold payments to vendors as a result of Musk’s slash-and-burn strategy, which has ripple effects throughout the entire U.S. economy.
Medicine and food have been left in storage facilities after billions of dollars in international aid were stopped and the U.S. Agency for International Development, which oversees around 60% of U.S. foreign assistance, was essentially decimated since Trump took office on January 20.
Critical government services, such as nuclear weapons monitoring and avian flu response, have been rehired in some instances.
A coalition of labor groups has petitioned a federal court to halt the mass firings; on Monday, they amended their claim to ask that Musk’s menacing email be declared unlawful.
Additionally, the DOGE team was unable to access sensitive data held by the Education Department and the OPM due to a federal judge’s order.
No confirmation by the Senate was necessary for Musk’s appointment, in contrast to those of cabinet members and heads of autonomous government agencies.
Luis Gochoco is a seasoned managing editor and writer with over a decade of experience covering politics, technology, gaming, and entertainment news. With a keen eye for breaking stories and in-depth analysis, he has established himself as a trusted voice in digital journalism. Luis is one of the key forces behind the success of GameNGuide, contributing to 12 million views through engaging and high-traffic content. He also played a pivotal role in generating 8 million views on International Business Times, shaping the platform’s technology and gaming coverage.
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